DRUM & BASS REVIEWS
track, beautifully reflecting shards of illumination into its vague, murky depths. Progressing down a slightly lighter path, it’s a step in a stunning direction.
Potential Badboy feat Junior Dangerous
Cyant Stop Jekyll & Hyde Recordings 8.5
Sun-drenched with those ragga vibes that have become synonymous with the mention of this name, Potential’s newest bass-heavy banger is decorated with a tropical beat of bongos and whistles, and smacks you with an undeniable urge to move from the very first drop. The track is heated to the nth degree with vocals from Junior Dangerous — expect to hear this a lot over the first part of 2013, it’s definitely one to warm up our winter.
Rido feat Thomas Oliver
Twisted VIP Metalheadz 9.0
Hazard
Do Without You Playaz
9.0
The undisputed king of dancefloor diversity proves once again that drum & bass is not about boxes and tags, with his new liquid-laced, bass-heavy vocal roller taken from the aptly-named EP ‘Never The Same’. Hazard plays his versatility card, with every track of the EP highlighting a different (although similarly aggressive) area of the dancefloor spectrum, while ‘Do Without You’ showcases the softer side not usually associated with Hazard.
Optiv & BTK feat Sam Wills
Understand Shogun 6.0
Although this is not by any means a bad track, as the opening choice for the last EP in the ‘Evolution’ series, it seems slightly stationary in a world of ever-evolving d&b. The track’s bouncy beat and elongated bass make it perfect for ravers, but with the feeling that you may have heard this somewhere before comes brief disappointment in a label which is usually pushing boundaries so far forward they aren’t even visible on the horizon. Calyx & Teebee
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Pure Gold Ram
7.5
After the success of ‘Elevate This Sound’, Calyx & Teebee take an opportunity to educate the new recruits in the roots of the ever- increasing, commercially popular sound that is drum & bass. This pairing has an enduring, dynamite quality and ‘Pure Gold’ pays nostalgic homage to the golden era of the mid-’90s — ‘Brown Paper Bag’-esque twangs bounce around a hybrid backdrop of funky-hip-hop-laced d&b, as lyrically lucid Kemo provides the evocatively redolent vocals, bringing this reminiscent track into modern standing.
Gerra & Stone
Smoke & Mirrors Proximity 8.0
Working their magic, the boys have done it again, conjuring up yet another musical masterpiece, floating in the minimal, new- school tech realm, beckoning you to experience another world. A low grouchy sub can just about be made out, as ghostly haunts glide over a glitchy backbone. Droplets of crystallised sound adorn the
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This track has been lurking around the darkest corners of the clubs for some while now, and it’s finally time for it to see the light of day on Goldie’s Ever-consistent Metalheadz imprint. Entrancingly sinister, ‘Twisted VIP’ bleeds emotion through the divine piano and sublimely evocative vocals of Thomas Oliver, before dropping into one hell of a lurid lullaby. Hard and harsh bass entangles itself amid an organized chaos of breakbeats, as your heart and soul become lost in the shadows.
Tyke
Buzzards Grid Recordings 8.0
A continuously high-pitched screech, as a wake of buzzards remorselessly envelop your eardrums, signaling to you that you’re entering maliciously war- torn, eerie territory with Tyke’s newest release. The panic-stricken tempo of its half-step beat leaves you unprepared for the supersonic assault of the drawn- out battleship foghorns that enter later. While intoxicatingly melancholy, ‘Buzzards’ has a juxtaposed, undeniably upbeat dancefloor vibe, making this track impossible to hide from.
KASRA CRITICAL
01 ENEI ‘Machines LP’ Critical “The Russian wonder kid’s debut album, and what a debut it is.”
02. KASRA & ENEI ‘So Real (Mefjus Remix)’ Critical “Mefjus has taken our modest original and spun it on its head, awesome.”
03. JUBEI & FLOWDAN ‘Say Nothin’ (Rockwell Remix)’ Metalheadz “Definition of a remix, incredible stuff.”
04. MEFJUS ‘Signalz’ Critical “Latest recruit to the Critical camp, and this is the A-side to his forthcoming
single. Fearless and dynamic.”
05. DUB PHIZIX & SKITTLES ‘Creator’ Exit “Dub Phizix continues his amazing form with this killer.”
06. S.P.Y & KASRA ‘Surface VIP’ Critical “Finally, it’s out soon, a gentle twist on the original.”
07. HAZARD ‘Billy’ Playaz “Reminds me of Jonny L, which is always a good thing.”
08. ENEI ‘Mosquito’ Critical “Album’s just come out and he’s back on the horse — stripped-back freshness.”
09. HAZARD ‘Air Guitar’ Playaz “Another slice of dancefloor mayhem, this and ‘Billy’ are part of an amazing
EP.”
10. EMPEROR ‘She Said’ Critical “Expert raw funk!”
NICOLA ELLIOTT
nelliott1618@hotmail.com Facing Jynx
Hungry Peer Pressure International 8.0
Taken from this newcomer’s forthcoming EP, Hungry is deliciously mellow. This buttery smooth track will melt your eardrums, leaving a creamy backdrop to intensify its deep vocals. Pure pleasure from Peer Pressure.
Nymfo
Suddenly Commercial Suicide 7.5
The glowing ambience radiated by the piano notes in this track perfectly balance out the crisp spine. Beautifully mixed, with a warm and subtle bass layered alluringly with elegant vocals.
Original Sin
QUICKIES Keep Your Pimp Hands
Strong Image Muzik 7.5
The focus of Original Sin’s own imprint is loud, filthy and rowdy jump-up. And boy, is that what you get from the forthcoming ‘We Are Your Friends’ album. Complete with menacing crescendo, dirty drops and semi-orgasmic samples — who said jump-up was dead?
The Upbeats
Diffused Vision 7.5
This quirky tune is finally being released. With its kooky, Aboriginal- feeling beat and that naughty, nasty bassline, it’s a track that can’t be ignored.
MONEYSHOT!
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